Electric switch



, Sept. 24, 1946.

c. A. ADAMs- ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed March 12; 1945 INVENTOR. C. flu/7M5 Patented Sept. 24, 1946 4 Claims. Cl. 200159) My present invention relates to improvements in switches of the type shown in my Patent No. 2,119,146, issued May 31, 1938. Such switches comprise conducting elements and switch elements inside of a non-frangible casing of rubber or a rubber-like material and my purpose is to provide means for insuring properaction of the switch, even if there should be a tendency on the part of the casing to deteriorate or soften to .a certain extent, thus rendering the structure nonfunctional or partly so. A further object of my invention is to provide a spring which will help the housing of the switch to maintain its normal form when not under operating pressure. My invention further comprises such novel objects, advantages, and capabilities as will hereafter appear and as are inherent in the structure disclosed herein.

In the drawing annexed hereto and forming a part hereof,

Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal section of my improved switch;

Fig. 2 represents an elevation of a spring used in this switch; and r Fig. 3 represents an edge view of the structure shown in Fig. 2.

Reference will now be made in greater detail to the annexed drawing for a more complete description of this invention. The casing I has a cap 2, one end of which is provided with an inwardly extending flange to snap over a flange 3' on the end of the casing. Within this cap are housed the terminals 4 and 5 of the conductors 6 and 1, the latter of which has a gap therein which is to be bridged by the switch element 8.

The second portion of the conductor 1 is denoted by the numeral la.

A coil spring 9 has its end portions l0 and I! extending outwardly,as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, and these engage in indentations formed in the conductor 1 and the switch element 8.

Pressure on the button 12 of the casing [will cause this part of the casing to be pressed inwardly with the result that the hook 8a will engage the conductor member la, the spring 9 flexing to permit such engagement. When it is desired to open the switch, pressure is exerted on the button l3 which causes hook to to become The spring 9 not only disconnected from 1a. overcomes any tendency for the rubber to give way under the pressure of the contact element '8 but it also serves as a conductor between elements 1 and 8 and insures contact between 8a and 1a.

It will of course be understood that the specific description of structure set forth above may be departed from without departing from the spirit of this invention as set forth herein and in the appended claims.

Havingnow described my invention, I claim:

1. A switch of the character described having a hollow insulating wall, one portion of which may be flexed to cause opening and closing of the switch, the body of the switch housing having a conductor embedded therein which comprises two separated parts, a switch element having an end portion secured to the flexible portion of the switch housing, said switch element having its unattached end bent at an angle such that it is adapted to be restrained from inadvertent separation from the conductor element with which it engages when theswitch'is closed, and a coil spring bridging the space between the switch element and the second portion of said conductor element, said spring serving as a current carrier between the conductor and the switch element.

bent spring having one of its ends engaging the second portion of the interrupted conductor and its second end engaging said switch element, said spring being adapted to be flexed by pressure upon the flexible portion of the housing wall so that the switch may be closed or opened by such pressure on said wall.

a 3. A structure for the purpose indicated comprising a hollow insulating housing having current conducting elements embedded therein, one of said elements having a gap therein to interrupt the flow of current therethrough, a portion of the wall of said switch housing being flexible and having an end portion of a switch element embedded therein, the second end of said switch element being adapted to engage one portion of the conductor element having the gap therein, a bent spring having one of its ends engaging the second portion of the interrupted conductor and its second end engaging said switch element, said spring being adapted to be flexed by pressure upon the flexible portion of the housing wall so that the switch may be closed or opened by l 3 such pressure on said wall, the ends of said spring engaging in depressions formed in said conductor and said switch element, whereby to insure that the ends of the spring will not become detached from the parts against which they bear.

4. A switch of the character described having a hollow housing of insulating material, one portion of whichmay be, flexed to cause opening and closing of the switch, the body of the housing having conductors embedded therein, one of 10 which has a gap therein, a switch element having a portion thereof embedded in the housing wall closely adjacent the flexible portion, and a spring forming a connection between the switch element and one section of the conductor having the gap, said switch being capable of being put into conducting engagement with the second section of the first conductor or removed from such engagement by flexing the housing wall.

CHARLES'A. ADAMS. 

